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Svalbard: NATO’s Arctic ‘Achilles’ Heel’

The archipelago of Svalbard shows how emergent issues in the Arctic could lead to new tensions between Russia and NATO.

The Arctic has been characterised as an area of low tension in relations between Russia and NATO states in the region. However, there are several emerging issues that could give rise to tensions in the future. James K Wither analyses the prominent example of the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, exploring how the territory’s distance from mainland Norway and peculiar legal status leave it politically and militarily vulnerable to Russian adventurism intended to test NATO’s cohesion and solidarity in a crisis.

The road to NATO accession for the small Western Balkan country of North Macedonia has finally been opened following the settlement of a dispute with Greece concerning the country’s name. But what will North Macedonia be able to offer the Alliance, and why does NATO want to let in the newly renamed country?

Still, the historic symbolism of today's summit will not be lost on anyone. For the Polish capital was the place where the old Soviet Union established the Warsaw Pact, the communist bloc's response...

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